Live-Action Video Camera Proves Undoing to Repeat Airport Burglars

Police investigating a break-in at Kennedy International Airport watched a videotape of the crime--and then did a double take when the screen returned to live action and showed the burglars had returned.

The detectives captured one suspect but three others got away. They captured a second man at LaGuardia Airport as he tried to board a plane to Miami, Port Authority Police Capt. Frank Fox said Friday.

Both men were charged with burglary and possession of stolen property.

The caper, as outlined by Fox and Lynn Tierney of the Port Authority’s information office, went this way:

Two men entered the Ogden-Allied Aviation Services warehouse at Kennedy Airport on Wednesday night and removed $20,000 worth of duty-free cigarettes, liquor and costume jewelry belonging to Air Egypt.

The theft, in a room monitored by a TV camera, was quickly discovered and Port Authority police were notified. Shortly after midnight, Ogden-Allied’s manager, Richard Maumann, ran the videotape for detectives Ray Nafey, John Trotter and Charles Yeungst.

When the replay ended, the live scene returned to the screen, showing the burglars, this time with friends.

“After they took the stuff, the two guys went to Brooklyn to get help and came back with two more guys and another car to clean out the place. They were greedy,” said Fox.